_Sal._ The Count Melun, a noble lord of France;[516] 15 Whose private with me of the Dauphin's love[517] Is much more general than these lines import. _Big._ To-morrow morning let us meet him then. _Sal._ Or rather then set forward; for 'twill be Two long days' journey, lords, or ere we meet.[518] 20 _Enter the_ BASTARD. _Bast._ Once more to-day well met, distemper'd lords! The king by me requests your presence straight. _Sal._ The king hath dispossess'd himself of us: We will not line his thin bestained cloak[519] With our pure honours, nor attend the foot 25 That leaves the print of blood where'er it walks. Return and tell him so: we know the worst. _Bast._ Whate'er you think, good words, I think, were best. _Sal._ Our griefs, and not our manners, reason now. _Bast._ But there is little reason in your grief; 30 Therefore 'twere reason you had manners now. _Pem._ Sir, sir, impatience hath his privilege.[520] _Bast._ 'Tis true, to hurt his master, no man else.[520][521] _Sal._ This is the prison. What is he lies here? [_Seeing Arthur._[522] _Pem._ O death, made proud with pure and princely beauty! 35 The earth had not a hole to hide this deed. _Sal._ Murder, as hating what himself hath done, Doth lay it open to urge on revenge. _Big._ Or, when he doom'd this beauty to a grave,[523] Found it too precious-princely for a grave.[524] 40 _Sal._ Sir Richard, what think you? have you beheld,[525] Or have you read or heard? or could you think? Or do you almost think, although you see, That you do see? could thought, without this object,[526] Form such another? This is the very top,[527] 45 The height, the crest, or crest unto the crest, Of murder's arms: this is the bloodiest shame, The wildest savagery, the vilest stroke, That ever wall-eyed wrath or staring rage Presented to the tears of soft remorse. 50 _Pem._ All murders past do stand excused in this: And this, so sole and so unmatchable, Shall give a holiness, a purity, To the yet unbegotten sin of times;[528] And prove a deadly bloodshed but a jest, 55 Exampled by this heinous spectacle. _Bast._ It is a damned and a bloody work; The graceless action of a heavy hand, If that it be the work of any-hand.